The Ethical Dilemma Of Assisted Suicide

1626 WordsOct 10th, 20147 Pages

There is a very controversial ethical dilemma in the realm of medicine. It is the ethical rock bottom to some, while for others it marks an escape from their doomed state. This controversial topic is called “Physician-Assisted Death”, also sometimes referred to as “Assisted Suicide”. This issue is often an emotionally charged one, as many patients who request this type of service are terminally ill and wish to die peacefully, without pain, and with their dignity intact. Assisted death is not however legal for anyone who is not terminal, “if someone has a chronic illness that is not terminal, that individual is not eligible for assisted suicide under any proposal in the U.S., nor under the Oregon Death with Dignity Act.” (Golden, 2014) Many requests for assisted suicide are usually for one of the following reasons: “Being afraid of what the future may hold, experiencing burnout from unrelenting disease, having the wish and need for control, experiencing depression, or experiencing extremes of suffering, including refractory pain and other symptoms.” (Pereira, 2011) Our current patient is Mr. William Blake. Mr. Blake is 68 years old, married for 40 years. Father and Grandfather too many children. He is a retired school teacher and Sunday school teacher. Mr. Blake has terminal lung cancer, and does not wish to die at the end of a long and drawn out battle with his disease. Mr. Blake has been healthy most of his life, except for his habit of smoking which has caused him…

Physician Assisted Suicide
Physician Assisted Suicide Is it Right or Wrong? The ethical issues of physician-assisted suicide are both emotional and controversial, as it ranks right up there with abortion. Some argue physician assisted suicide is ethically permissible for a dying person who has choosing to escape the unbearable suffering at the end of life. Furthermore, it is the physician’s duty to alleviate the patients suffering, which at times justifies providing aid-in -dying. These arguments…

we aspire for the highest form of happiness. Through the implications and discourse of vice and virtue, this paper explores the relevance of Aristotle’s moral philosophy in modern day and will be applied to the contemporary ethical issue surrounding physician assisted suicide. By exploring Aristotle’s work through primary and secondary sources, this paper will discuss the greater good and happiness as it relates to not only the patient or physician, but as a member of a greater social circle and…

Is Doctor-Assisted Suicide Ethical?
“Doctor-assisted suicide is the act of a physician facilitating the death of patient by providing the means or information to enable a patient to perform a life-ending act” (American Medical Association). When thinking of assisted suicide the first thing that comes to mind is whether it’s ethical for a doctor to assist in the suicide of a patient. There are many arguments both for and against the act but…

why someone might want to die today or tomorrow. Whether this is right or wrong is very controversial. Assisted suicide is very prevalent in today’s society, with five states deeming it legal and the remaining states considering it illegal. There are several major conflicting values and ethical principles within assisted suicide that may be in opposition to the code of ethics. However, the ethical principle of autonomy allows the patient to have control over their body and illness and die with dignity…

in a way that is abiding with the ethical responsibilities of the nursing profession and quality in nursing care. The Code of Ethics has excellent guidelines for how nurses should behave, however; these parameters are not specific. They do not identify what is right and wrong, leaving nurses having to ultimately make that decision. Ethics in nursing involves individual interpretation based on personal morals and values. Nursing professionals have the ethical accountability to be altruistic, meaning…

Physician-assisted suicide can be defined as suicide by a patient facilitated by means or information (such as a drug prescription or indication of the lethal dosage) provided by a physician who is aware of how the patient intends to use such means or information, but can be categorized as egregious. The ethical controversy of whether the legalization of physician- assisted suicide should take place in America is one to be disposed of. With no regard to religion, the catastrophe of physician-assisted…

Moral and Ethical Controversies of Assisted Suicide
The practices of euthanasia and assisted suicide are something that takes place in hospitals around the world both legally and illegally. It is the act of intentionally causing a patients death or allowing a patient to take their own life by prescribing lethal doses of medication. Until very recently, it was only legal in one state in the United States, Oregon. However, just this past November, Washington also hopped on board. Opinions about the…

Physician assisted suicide is looked at as an ethical issue that is highly controversial and not commonly accepted, especially in the United States. There are many different forms of assisted suicide. There are those that are legal and illegal. The forms of assisted suicide that I would like to consider in this study are those that are legal or potentially legal and I also would like to reveal what parts of the world it is legalized. Physician assisted suicide is the suicide of a patient suffering…

Is physician assisted suicide morally right? This has been a controversial subject for some time now. People are wondering whether or not it is the most humane thing to do. If dogs can be putdown, why not people? The reason is in that question. They are people. Every life is important, no matter how long it may be. Instead of finding a way to get rid of people faster, the government could put those efforts in something more positive. If other people are considering whether or not the patients’ life…

Is Physician Assisted Suicide Ethical?
Theresa Anderson
SOC 120 Introduction to Ethics & Social Responsibility
Instructor: David Jung
November 25, 2012
Physician assisted suicide, is this an ethical procedure? Many feel strongly on both sides of this issue. Some states such as Washington and Oregon have made Physician assisted suicide legal. Other states such as Michigan and Massachusetts have put the issue to a vote and the voters have turned down the option. What exactly is physician…